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U.S. postal inspectors report there has been an epidemic of mail thefts, as criminals swipe outgoing checks from mailboxes that have their red flags up. The thieves will steal a check in the morning and cash it by the afternoon, the center said.
The National Check Fraud Center said check washing has increased at an alarming rate.
One of the earlier reported larcenies involved two checks taken from a mailbox that soon were used at Walmart stores in Ruidoso Downs and El Paso for nearly $200 each time.
Walmart, and some other merchants, use electronic funds transfers to automatically receive a payment using the check's account and routing numbers. The check is then handed back to the person that presented it to the checkout clerk.
Seems to me the answer is to return to the system where persons presenting checks for purchases MUST produce a valid I.D. And signatures compared.
How can a check made out to a specific person or company be used to buy something at Wal-mart unless Wal-mart is part of the conspiracy?
I'm baffled too... so say I make out a check to State Farm... how can somebody steal that and use it to make purchases at Walmart? Isn't State Farm the only one who can use that?
How can a check made out to a specific person or company be used to buy something at Wal-mart unless Wal-mart is part of the conspiracy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverfox
Checking Washing.....
Get a Gel Pen to write your checks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rruff
I'm baffled too... so say I make out a check to State Farm... how can somebody steal that and use it to make purchases at Walmart? Isn't State Farm the only one who can use that?
They use a process known as check washing, mail snatchers erase the ink on a check with chemicals, rewrite the checks to themselves, possibly increasing the amount payable, then cashing it.
About three years ago, after having checks stolen from my mailbox, I installed a very heavy-duty, locking mailbox with a 10" slot for mail and small packages. That has worked very well. I think it's better than the multiple-customer boxes. The street adjacent to mine has one of those boxes that serves a number of customers, and someone managed to pry the thing open a year or so ago.
On several occasions, I've seen people driving around neighborhoods opening, checking, and pulling mail out of mailboxes. Unfortunately, each time, I was on my bicycle and couldn't get a license plate ID.
Wow. I guess there is something to be said for the 'bee-hive' mail boxes after all.
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